Top 20 Favourite TV Shows (Part 1)

I am bored. I have finished uni for the year, and that in itself is a lot to celebrate. So, why not with a list.

Recently I have found myself watching more TV shows than movies. I'm currently binging on two series', and have recently discovered a third. So, why not a list of my favourite TV shows? I doubt anyone will actually be interested in this, but I don't really care. My blog, my lists.

So, I hope you enjoy reading my personal favourites. It was a little difficult to choose them, and how I should choose the ones to go on my list. In the end it came down to three things; nostalgia, re-watchability, and whether or not I actually waited to watch them on an actual TV when I did actually watched TV. 

Because I'm weird, or awesome as I prefer to think, I don't watch a lot of TV serials. So, shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, True Blood, and Boardwalk Empire won't appear on this list. Just getting that out of the way now so you won't be disappointed. Expect more comedies and mystery shows. You also may have noticed that there are 20 titles on this list. This is because there were some shows that I just could not bear to leave off, and it consequently brought the list up to 20. Sorry.

But enough banter, let's get on with the list!
  
20. The Mighty Boosh

I won't say that this was my first foray into absurd comedy, but The Mighty Boosh was definitely the first bit media that I actively sort out fanfiction for. And it introduced to me the wonder of slash fiction. Apart from initiating me into what fandom is, Mighty Boosh is also a pretty hilarious show. The double act of Howard Moon and Vince Noir is brilliant, and the crazy adventures they find themselves on are both genius and silly beyond words. The supporting characters are also funny, especially Naboo the enigma (who is probably my favourite character) and the Hitcher (who I may or may not have dressed up as at one point...). The live shows are also hilarious, especially the first one. And who could forget the songs! I still know the Hitcher's song off by heart, and will break into it if prompted! If you haven't heard of this show, where have you been living?

19. Jonathan Creek

And now we come to the first of the mystery series that I spent way too much time watching over and over again. Actually, this is probably the only show that I didn't watch over and over again. It spoils the mystery if you watch it too many times. While other mystery shows focus on who did it or why it was done, Jonathan Creek instead focuses on how it was done, which leads to a lot interesting lock door mysteries. I always had so much fun trying to beat the eponymous hero in figuring out how things were done, and even though I never got them right it was still really interesting to see what actually happened. And it stars Alan Davies as Jonathan Creek, who is an awesome grumpy magician's assistant who lives in a windmill. What more could you want?

18. Life on Mars

So, this is one of the shows that I would wait to watch on ABC every Wednesday night. I don't get attached to drama shows that often, but this one was different. It had an interesting premise that didn't get stale through the run of two seasons. And I kinda liked that the situation was never really explained, which is one of the problems I had with the sequel series Ashes to Ashes. The whole universe of the show lost its magic for me when it was explained. But in Life on Mars, the mystery was kept up for 2 seasons! And I was hooked for the entire run! Plus, it also introduced the world to one of the greatest characters ever created! Gene Hunt, the biggest bad-ass of them all!

17. Agatha Christie's Poirot

Agatha Christie has become one of my favourite authors, and I'm sure that favouritism was fueled by this TV show detailing almost every case of Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective. If you watch every episode in order (something I have yet to do, but do it I will!), then you notice a change come over the show as it moves from the rather light seasons of the 90s, to more darker tones and subtexts in the 2000s. It really interesting to watch how they change small things in the books to make the stories more cinematic or dramatic. And David Suchet is the best Poirot ever (sorry Peter Ustinov!). Suchet is also the first actor to appear in adaptations of pretty much every Poirot novel and short story (from what I've read, there's only one short story that hasn't been adapted with Suchet as Poirot). For that, he deserves a medal and every acting award!

16. Star Trek

 
While the picture may be of the original series, this spot is kinda reserved for all the Star Trek's. Or at least all the Star Trek's I've watched so far, namely TOS, Next Generation, and Deep Space Nine. I think in my heart, the original series will hold a very special place since it was the first Star Trek I watched, and it was the first time I was really introduced to the acting genius that is William Shatner.
The thing that really stands out about the original series in particular is that it's not about conquest, it's about discovery, finding new species and making friends with them, and maybe accidentally destroying said species in the process. Kirk might have ignored the Prime Directive more than once, but his loyalty to his crew and need to protect them is truly admirable. He's not that bad a captain. And the original series theme music is cheesy and brilliant and awesomely 60s!

15. Black Books

I don't return to this series as often as other ones on this list. But every time I do, I find myself watching every episode from every season in one huge binge! The world's grumpiest book shop owner, Bernard Black (played hilariously by Dylan Moran) has appeared on this blog before as the most loveable jerk you ever met. And the other characters are equally as awesome. Every actor who appeared on here has gone to other shows and movies, but I do love them in this the most. The strange scenarios they find themselves in become a little hit and miss in later seasons, but there are still some excellent jokes and one-liners to be found in even the least good of the episodes. British black comedy at its finest!

14. RuPaul's Drag Race & The Great British Bake Off

There are a couple of doubles on this list, because it's my list and I couldn't bear to leave any of these off. These two are put together because they are both reality TV shows, though their subject matter couldn't be any different.

I have a strange fascination with drag queens. I think it's cause I find them so talented in creating an illusion that most of the time looks better than the real thing (better than my best day, at any rate). I think that's why I got into this show, but I stayed because I fell in love with the drag queens. The show might be a bit manipulative, but then what show isn't. And they do take a lot time to show how talented each of the queens are. And I do like the message that drag queens create their own family that is hidden between the bitchiness and cat-fights. Plus the fashions that they all come up with! I have seen every season of this show at least two times, and I don't regret any of it!

Now, this show is almost the complete opposite in terms of tone, but that's what makes it so good! While other reality shows rely on bitchiness and scandal to sell themselves, The Great British Bake Off instead uses politeness and constructive criticism to keep it's audience. The judges are always fun to watch, and though they do critique the bakes quite hard sometimes, they always offer advice and try to offer a compliment to even the worst bakes. And the contestants are all really supportive of each other, and that means that you get really upset whenever any of them leave. I never thought baking could be tense. And the hosts, Mel and Sue, are so awesome! The puns they come up with! All the bun puns! Brilliant!

13. 2 Broke Girls

 

So, this is the most recent show on this list. I'm not that big a fan of modern sitcoms, I think a lot of them are annoying and stupid. But I like this one, and I think a lot of that comes from the excellent casting of the two leads. Kat Dennings is awesome in everything, and Max Black is now one of my favourite characters ever! But Beth Behrs is also really good as the straight man to a lot of Max's jokes, and I don't think she gets the credit she deserves a lot of the time. The whole premise of the show is also one that people can relate to, since almost everyone has been broke at some point in time (me more than others, it seems). I know the humour can sometimes be crude and obvious, but I still like it, and I think there should be more sitcoms with excellent female characters and actors. 

12. Heart and Soul, aka All the Small Things

I loved this show so much when it first came out that when I missed one of the episodes, I looked it up on youtube to watch it! I doubt many people remember this. It was a fairly light, 6 episode dramedy from the UK about the trials and tribulations of a small town choir. Each episode would focus on a different member of the choir, with an overarching story involving the strife of the family of the choir master. It's quite gentle, and the music is excellent with some awesome covers of modern rock songs (check out the acapella version of 'What's My Age Again'). It's one of those shows that whenever I watch it, I have to watch all 6 episodes in order in one big binge. I just have to, I get so caught up in the characters I need to know everything that happens! If you haven't heard of this series, but like little British TV shows, then I would definitely recommend this!

11. Daria

When I first watched this when it first came out, I don't think I really got it. I was too young to understand it. But after re-watching it a year or so ago when I was craving nostalgia, I fell in love with it completely! I love the character of Daria, the perpetual high school outsider (so much so, that I might have dressed up as her for a party at some point). The other characters are also great, and even though most of them don't turn up in Australian high schools, are still recognisable enough to everyone. The animation is also good, and while it is simple if fits the premise perfectly. One of the best kids show ever made, and now one of my favourite shows ever!

So, that's it for part 1! Part 2 will be up eventually. Until next time, readers.

Top 10 Opening Songs to Kid Shows

So a couple of weeks I went on a massive nostalgic trip and looked up a lot of the shows I grew up watching when I was a kid. And some of the openings were the epitome of awesome! So, here is a list of some of the best openings I remember, and some new ones I've found along the way. (Oh, and I'm sorry for using so many cliches while writing. Keep in mind, I was on a nostalgia trip!)

So for this list I went for actual songs, not instrumental openings. So, no Brum or Rugrats. Also, I there are no anime shows on here, so no Pokemon. I also tried not to go for songs that explain the entire plot of the show before it starts. So, please don't kill me for not putting those on the list. They are being saved for other times.

Anyway, let's begin!


10. Total Drama Island

Oh god! Do not listen to this song! If you want your sanity to remain intact. This song is one of the biggest earwicks I have ever heard! It gets into your head and it never leaves! Which I suppose is good, but god it's annoying. In all honesty, it fits the show perfectly. TDI is very loud, annoying and gets on you nerves at times! Yet, I still love it and the song. Guitar driven theme songs are becoming more and more popular, and this is one of the first ones I remember. It also an excellent way to introduce someoneto the show. It draws you in completely, leaving you in anticipation for the rest of the show.


9. CatDog

I couldn't do this list without at least one Nicktoons opening. And CatDog really has to be the best. As an opening, it tells the backstory of the main characters, and explains their odd relationship. In all honesty, its quite a moving theme once you know the lyrics, which tells us that even though their is only one CatDog, they do have each and get along enough to consider the other their brother. However this comes through only when you know the lyrics, and because the song is sung so quickly the lyrics rush by your ears and are fairly hard to understand. But that doesn't make this any more awesome. The melody is surrounded by frenetic winds and soulful guitar, and opens us to the crazy Nickelodeon world of CatDog.


8. Bear in the Big Blue House

This song proved that your show can be made even more awesome with a saxophone. Oh, I hated this show at one stage. You know that inbetween time when kids think they're really adults and refuse to watch all the old shows they watch.... ok, just me then. But whatever, everything about this show pissed me off, except for the theme song. It does more than introduce the characters, it creates a good atmosphere for the show to begin in. And it has epic sax solos! What more can I say, except that saxophones can save everything! I'm serious, before I looked this up again, those sax solos were all I could remember. And I don't think it's hard to see why.


7. Daria

For a show about the biggest character of meh, you need a fairly meh theme song without being meh itself. If that makes any sense to you, you should probably realise why this theme works so well, while still being memorable. "You're Standing On My Neck" by Splendora is the perfect song for Daria, showing us the indifferent nature of the character, while also using a grunge song to illustrate what the 90s were like for teenagers. The lyrics show how frustrating life can be for a teenager, while being sung in such a way that you never fully know what is being sung. Yet that works more to their advantage, and makes the song more interesting for repeat listenings. The attitude in the song also works to introduce us to Daria's cynical nature, from the uninterested vocals, to the annoyed lyrics, this song fits in perfectly with our favourite misanthropic youth.
(Sorry for the backward video, it was all I could find)


6. Fireman Sam

I'll admit that there were a lot of other choices for this spot, namely Postman Pat, Playschool, even Budgie. But I chose this one because it's my list, and this is the first song I remember listening to and actively waiting for the show just so that I could listen to it. Again, it describes the character and what he does, just like many others do. It also describes how good and generally awesome Sam is. In fact, this song makes him sound like Superman! I always remember this song with the animation of the opening, with Sam riding around in his big red engine, and all the different characters having about 2 seconds to make themselves known. Yeah, so this has a nostalgic glow for me, but who cares! It's a friendly and inviting opening, that invites right into a fun and loving show. Plus those electric guitars kill me every time! So cool!!


5. Sesame Street

Can anyone actually tell me how to get to Sesame Street? I doubt it, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is the fact that this song has survived so many series and reincarnations, and it's still the same song! Different versions, yes, but the same words, melody and awesome-ness. There's nothing really anything else to say, but if it wasn't a good song then how on earth did it survive so long? The ending theme also kick ass, with a broken down version of the opening, with more sax!! Loving the sax right now!


4. Phineas and Ferb

Lol, what? That show? That show that was on Saturday Disney? How could you put that one above Sesame Street? Yes, well, it's my list. But that probably won't do it enough for you. Why should I put this newbie above such classics as Daria, and Fireman Sam. And Sesame Street! Well, as awesome as those classics are, this is the best opening song I have heard from the last 5 years or so. While TDI may have been that annoying earwick in your head that you couldn't get rid of no matter how hard you tried, Phineas and Ferb has a song that makes people want to remember it. It's fun, cheesy and performed by Bowling for Soup. Excellent! While the other classics will always hold something special for me, Phineas and Ferb has a kick ass opening for one of the best shows to come out of Disney. Ever.


3. Arthur

Really? You're asking why this is on? It should be obvious, this song is EPIC! Everyone knows it, everyone sings along to it, and if you don't, then you have not lived! This song is probably the happiest opening I have heard. It's boppy, but not overly. It's cheesey, but not cutesy. And it will have you smiling the minute you hear it. Do I really need to say anything else? It's a song about living and loving life, and all that it throws at you. And no matter how cheesey it may seem, you know you love it too much to care!



2. Bump in the Night

Hell yeah! Do I even need to justify this choice? Again! Anyone who has heard this song knows that this is one awesome song! I don't really like songs that explain everything about the show in a minute or so. But this one I can forgive. This is sung from the perspective of the main character, basically glorifying himself and saying how cool it is to hang out with him, a crazy and slightly egotistical monster that lives under the bed named Mr Bumpy, and voiced expertly by voice acting god Jim Cummings. It's fun, catchy and just plain epic, borrowing from motown styles of the 60s and shows off the personality of Mr Bumpy, which also sets the tone for the entire show, a fun little time waster that sticks in your mind.


1. Round the Twist

If you were a child of 90s Australia, then this was the one theme that no one could escape. This opening introduced us to one of the craziest shows created, not really surprising considering it was written by Paul Jennings, the king of weird. The song itself is light and instead of telling the entire story of the series in about half a minute, we are given a song more focusing on the main themes of the show, and letting us know that we are in for something exceptionally out of this world. Also, this is one of the only songs that works exceptionally well on its own without the accompanying TV show. The melody is catchy, the words are simple enough to know off by heart after one listen, yet they get across the zany-ness and all round fun that made the show memorable. Its got the right amount of 80s cheese and 90s pop to make it an everlasting memory for me, and my choice for the best opening song from a kids show.


Well, that's it for this list. Comment, and say your own favourites, or just tell me why mine sucks balls. I still have two actual reviews from my film group, but I needed to do a list. So, next will probably be A Separation (actual review), unless it's something completely different. Until next time, have you ever, ever felt like this?